Daily service: first and last departures from each terminal, every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full schedule
Free rides on announced festival days The Penang Port Commission has announced free ferry travel for Malaysians on some festival days, such as the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Wesak Day in 2026. Each one is announced separately on the Commission's news page; without an announcement the normal fares apply.
No cars The current fare list covers foot passengers, bicycles and motorcycles only, and the Commission's ferry statistics record no cars or lorries carried from 2021 onwards.
Map – Penang ferry (Butterworth – George Town)
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult foot passenger, one crossing | RM2 |
RM2.00 is the adult foot-passenger fare for one crossing in either direction, as listed on the Penang Port Commission's ferry page and in the Commission's 2025 ferry rates by-laws (in force from 15 August 2025). Children, holders of the OKU disability card, bicycles and motorcycles have their own rates; the child age bands on the web page and in the by-laws do not match, so those rates are not repeated here. Pay with a Touch 'n Go card, at the ticket counter or with an online ticket. All fares in Malaysian ringgit (MYR) unless another currency is shown.
The Penang ferry links Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal on the Butterworth side of the channel with Raja Tun Uda Terminal in George Town. The service is published by the Penang Port Commission (SPPP), whose by-laws set the fares, and it operates daily from 06:30 to 23:30 with no separate seasonal timetable.
There is no minute-by-minute timetable. The Commission gives the first and last boat from each side and an interval: every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes outside them. From Butterworth the first ferry leaves at 06:30 and the last at 23:00; from George Town the day runs from 07:00 to 23:30. The Commission does not say which hours count as peak.
An adult on foot pays RM2.00 for one crossing, and the same price applies in both directions. That figure is on the ferry page and in the Commission's 2025 ferry rates by-laws, which came into force on 15 August 2025. Children, holders of the OKU disability card, cyclists and motorcyclists have their own rates. The child age bands on the web page and in the by-laws differ, so check the category at the counter. You can pay with a Touch 'n Go card, buy a ticket at the counter or use an online ticket.
Bicycles and two-wheeled motorcycles are listed in the fare table; cars are not. The Commission's own ferry statistics show cars and lorries until 2020 and none from 2021 onwards.
On the mainland side, the Commission lists parking and a public bus connection at Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal, on Jalan Pangkalan. In George Town, Raja Tun Uda Terminal stands on Pengkalan Weld, close to the UNESCO heritage area, with taxi and Grab pick-up. Both terminals share one contact number, 04-375 2432.
On some festival days the Commission has made the crossing free for Malaysians, for example on the first two days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and on Wesak Day in 2026. These offers are announced one by one in its news section; on every other day the standard fares apply.
- Arrive at the jetty in good time; check-in counters can close a few minutes before departure, and routes with immigration checks need extra time.
- Check the operator's notices on the day — rough seas, low tide and the monsoon seasons can change or cancel sailings.
- Carry your passport on routes to Thailand; some destinations charge a separate park or entry fee.